Much of the revenue generated by the port comes directly or indirectly from the cruise lines. Cruise parking makes up 18% of the gross income, making it a significant part of the port income. Rest assured, if you are going on a cruise out of Port Canaveral and need cruise parking, the port is fully equipped to provide a smooth and efficient experience from car, hotel or airport to the ship, and vice versa. Port Canaveral is the home port of several cruise ships operated by Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Given the distance between Orlando and Port Canaveral (about 45 minutes to an hour from the airport), many people decide to stay the night before their cruise in a hotel near the port. If you decide to do this, look for hotels with shuttles. Given the competition for your spending, many hotels offer perks like shuttles to entice you to book with them. In fact, some even offer transportation from the airport. You can view our list of hotels with shuttles here. It’s an easy way to get back and forth from the cruise ship. Extra details about Port Canaveral cruise parking.
Flying is stressful for solo travelers or couples, but with a family it’s no way to start a vacation. Skip security, dodge the baggage fees and drive. When you drive you can make it fun for everyone (who doesn’t love a road trip, right?), you can find food options that meet your needs and budget, and you’ll never have to worry about a missed connection or lost bag. When you fly into your cruise, all you experience of your cruise departure city is this: the airport, a shuttle, the ship’s terminal. But when you drive, you’ve just added an extra port to your itinerary. Spend a little time in port before or after you go. With a little planning you might find that a day or two in Disney or at Universal is perfect if you’re sailing from Port Canaveral; or go for a tour of Southern food and drink in Charleston, South Carolina; or plan a museum-filled weekend in New York. You get the picture.
I always recommend that cruise passengers arrive at least a day in advance. The risk of flight delays is always a risk, and arriving early can definitely help mitigate that risk. You’ll have lots of options when choosing where to stay that night. Some guests choose to go to Walt Disney World first, while others prefer to stay near the Orlando International Airport (where they can get transportation to the port in the morning).
Park N Cruise opened its gates in April 2011. To begin, we had 350 available parking spaces on about 3 acres of Merritt Island. We began operating with the idea that we wanted to bring excellent customer service, a sense of comfort, and an outstanding product to people looking for Port Canaveral cruise parking. And we wanted to provide it all at a great value. Seven years later, these principles still hold true. The Park N Cruise family thanks everyone who has parked with us, and we’re looking forward to seeing all the cruisers that we have yet to meet!